Sports
A Decade of Excellence: Celebrating 10 Years of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon
Joel Ajayi
The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has carved an indelible mark in the world of road racing, growing in leaps and bounds over the past decade.
This milestone 10th edition is a celebration of not just athleticism, but also the spirit of unity, global participation, and professional excellence. From its inception, this marathon has evolved into one of the fastest-growing road races globally, a testament to its stellar reputation and meticulous organization.
Nilayo Sports Management is the visionary force behind the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, steering it to become one of the most celebrated road races globally.
Renowned for their expertise and professionalism, Nilayo has consistently delivered world-class sporting events that elevate Nigeria’s profile on the international stage.
Awarding a cumulative prize purse in tens of thousands of dollars yearly, the marathon has become a beacon of opportunity and competition, attracting elite runners and enthusiasts from across the globe. Athletes from powerhouse countries in long-distance running like Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as participants from France and other nations, converge on Lagos to vie for glory on its vibrant streets.
In the weekend it holds, the event transforms Lagos into a hub of activity, bringing the city to life, uniting Nigerians, and showcasing its rich culture to the world.
As the organizers of the marathon, Nilayo Sports Management has ensured seamless execution year after year, blending top-tier logistics, athlete engagement, and global best practices.
With Nilayo at the helm, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon continues to inspire participation, foster unity, and promote Lagos as a global sporting hub.
World Athletics (WA) recognized the marathon’s consistent excellence by awarding it the prestigious Gold Label status. This accolade highlights its professionalism in organization, high-caliber participation, and commitment to global standards. As a key feature in the annual calendar of World Athletics, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon stands tall among the world’s premier road races, embodying a spirit of resilience and growth.
As the world celebrates a decade of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, it is clear that this race is more than just a sporting event—it is a movement that inspires health, fosters international camaraderie, and positions Lagos as a city to watch on the global athletics map. Here’s to 10 years of triumph and the promise of an even brighter future!
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
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